Knoxville, TN woman files suit over halftime show-induced 'injury'

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_ne...630274,00.html

State of undress causes distress
Knox woman files suit over halftime show-induced 'injury'

By RANDY KENNER, [email protected]
February 5, 2004

A Knoxville woman filed a proposed class action lawsuit Wednesday against Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, MTV, CBS and Viacom, contending she and other viewers were injured by their lewd actions during the Super Bowl halftime show.

Terri Carlin filed her lawsuit "on behalf of all Americans who watched the halftime show" in federal court in Knoxville.

The lawsuit stems from Sunday's now infamous exposure of one of Jackson's breasts when Timberlake ripped off part of her costume during their performance on the CBS network.

Viacom International Inc. owns both CBS and MTV. MTV produced the show.

Carlin, who works at a Knoxville bank, said the exposure and "sexually explicit conduct" by other performers during the show injured viewers.

"As a direct and proximate result of the broadcast of the acts, (Carlin) and millions of others saw the acts and were caused to suffer outrage, anger, embarrassment and serious injury," the lawsuit filed by Knoxville attorney Wayne A. Ritchie II states.

It doesn't specify the type of serious injury.

"All of the defendants knew that the Super Bowl, the pre-eminent sports event in the United States, would be watched by millions of families and children," Ritchie wrote. "Nevertheless, (they) included in the halftime show sexually explicit acts solely designed to garner publicity and, ultimately, to increase profits for themselves."

Carlin referred questions Wednesday night to Ritchie, who has declined to comment.

No one was available for comment at Viacom International Inc., or at Jackson's or Timberlake's record companies Wednesday night.

Jackson has apologized. She said MTV, CBS and the NFL did not know what was going to happen.

The lawsuit claims the broadcast companies and the two singers violated an "implied" contract with viewers not to subject them to allegedly lewd material.

"Families have an expectation that they can trust companies and individuals such as the defendants not to expose families to sexually explicit conduct during broadcasts of prime time events such as the Super Bowl," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit argues that even if they didn't know what was coming, the broadcasters should have had a "sufficient broadcast delay" to censor the acts.

Because the game is broadcast worldwide, Ritchie also wrote that the actions harmed the "standing and credibility" of Americans throughout the world.

Carlin's lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages worth billions.

dup msg

jeeze when are they gonna let this rest.....all the hoopla is worse then the act itself LOL

OMG I have never heard such sue happy people! Get over it already! I watched the entire super bowl and never even saw it neither did my brother(you'd think guys would notice it).

This is just my opinion.....but how stupid can one woman be??????

The only way I could see anyone being injured by the half time performance would be if they got too close and lost an eye to that nipple shield.......that was a wicked looking piece of body jewelry.

Some people apparently have wayyyyyyy too much time on their hands.

I had to read that twice..... It really irks me that people are this "sue happy"! I personally am NOT not suffering from outrage, anger, embarrassment or serious injury. So I guess I'm one less person shes doing this for.

Guess theres no law against STUPID.....I personally feel that the attorneys that file these crazy lawsuits should have their licenses suspended...bet that would make them think twice before clogging the legal system!!

"Because the game is broadcast worldwide, Ritchie also wrote that the actions harmed the "standing and credibility" of Americans throughout the world."
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The world must think we are strange that we call nudeness one exposed boob. Many other countries go completely nude, at least from the waist up. Seems she watched the whole show. The lady needs a lobotomy. Sorry she is way off base. So is what Janet and Justin did was off base. Maybe they can sue her for being a voyeur. HAHAHAHAHAHAAA

I can't believe she even found a lawyer who is dumb enough to withstand the public humiliation this is going to cause him/her! I hope they laugh her way too sensitive @ss right out the courtroom door.

As a P.S. We should all write a letter and send it to that federal judge (who you know is sitting in his chambers and laughing his hiney off about this case) and tell him just how stupid it is and that we hope he would dismiss it.

what you well hear next is someone well be sueing her for sueing on us americans behalf!! because no one gave her permission to sue on the americans behalf! follow me!! it is funny lol!!

well when she gets the money I want my HALF.....

My Hubby said he was in distress tooooooooooooo.....LOL